Brick-kiln.



- No. 778,441. PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

- J. 0. BOSS.

BRICK KILN.

a APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 7, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOIT No. 778,441. PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

L0. BOSS.

BRICK KILN.

APILIOATION FILED JAN. 7, 1904. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l b I I r I J54 6. 27am.

UNIT ED STATES Patented December 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN 0. Boss, or ELKHART, INDIANA.

BRICK-KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 778,441, dated December 27, 1904.

Application filed'J'anuary 7, 1904. Serial No. 188,135.

To O/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN 0. Boss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkhart, Elkhart county, Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-in Brick-Kilns, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to kilns for the burning of brick or other clay articles, and is designed for the purpose of utilizing coal and May 14, 1901, No. 673,896, and the present invention relates to an improvement on the form of air box or chamber placed at the bottom of the arch described in said patent.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of the arches, air-boxes, blower, and pipes leading therefrom to the boxes. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of one of the arches with the box in place. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the boxes. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of Fig. 3, taken through one of the openings. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line a: w of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A represents the mass of bricks as they are' arranged in an ordinary kiln prepared for the process of burning. The

ordinary arches, extending from side to side and constructed and arranged in the usual manner, are shown at B. Within these arches, at each end thereof, I locate 'my air-box, by

means of which I am able to dispense with the grate. and 5,consists of an elongated chamber formed This box, as shown in Figs. 3, 4,

of the bricks b, resting on a footing 0, the said footing forming the bottom of the chamher. The top of the chamber is formed of fire-bricks D, which are supported at each end by the bricks b. The fire-brick D are set with a space C between them and at both ends up to a point flush with the sides of the chamber. Thisspace is filled in with mortar or the like. The inner surface of the mortar is set at an obtuse angle to thesides of the box or chamber, so that an opening is formed betweenthe fire-bricks of elongated shape and having its ends in the form of an inverted cone the central line of the arch at the bottom of the arch. One is placed at each end in every one of the series of the arches.

A blower E, located outside the kiln, is connected with a main pipe F on its pressure side, and this main pipe extends under the kiln-floor in two main branches Gr Gr, from each of which side pipes 2 extend laterally, one in to every one of the air boxes or chambers through which the air is forced to the fuel within the arches.

Suitable valves are provided to control the air and direct it, as required.

,My invention requires for the best effect that the air should be directed upon the fuel within comparatively narrow limits and only upon a part of the fuel. Practically the firechamber, which in the form shown occupies the whole arch, has a solid or closed bottom.

The fuel, which may be spread out thinly on the bottom of the firechamber, is ignited along the line of openings in the air-box first, and air is applied by the blower, at first gently These boxes are placed, preferably, in

and afterward as the combustion increases a little more. This causes the combustion of the coal at first along the line of openings and maintains the combustion. As the operation increases the combustion spreads to the parts of coal not directly affected by the currents of air and simply by contact of the uniflamed mass with that which is ignited. By this method of ignition along a narrow line or lines and by communication from the ignited to the unignited portion of the fuel not directly affected by the air-current I am able to consume the fuel thoroughly and at the same time force the products of combustion without the clogging of unconsumed carbon and without the expensive aid of a chimney gradually through the entire mass of brick.

By means of the air-pipes branching to each side of the kiln and the doors capable of closing the arches I am able to control the heat and to direct the products of combustion to one side or the other, while still maintaining the fires upon both sidesthat is to say, in

suitable times diminish or entirely shut off the outside air from one side of the kiln and maintain it upon the other. This forces the prod ucts ofeombustion to the one side and causes them to enter and pervade the mass upon that side, and having maintained this for a sufficient length of time I alternate with the other, and thus evenly distribute the action of the heat. At the beginning of the operation, however, I leave the doors open on both sides and While maintaining the blast allow free access of air through the door. This is continued until the bricks become thoroughly dried and heated for the greater part to a red or approximately red heat. This with my apparatus is accomplished in two days or a little more. I then establish the alternate action above described.

It will be observed that the boxes do not extend to the interior of the arches, but that an unoccupied space is left between their intebrick to the top to provide flaring disehargemouths, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. BOSS. Vitnesses:

PERRY L. TURNER, MERLE Do'rr. 

